24.10.16
Luton airport calls for express train services in new East Midlands franchise
The new East Midlands rail franchise should add three more fast trains an hour from central London to London Luton Airport (LLA), airport authorities and their partners said today.
An independent economic analysis showed that increasing the number of services from one to four could increase rail revenue by up to £110m.
The proposals, backed by EasyJet, the Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses, also double the services to Nottingham and Leicester and provide more services along the line for Corby and Kettering.
Nick Barton, CEO of the airport, said: “The current £110m development of LLA will grow the number of passengers by 50% to 18 million a year by 2020. Rail infrastructure upgrades are needed to ensure that this capacity can be efficiently and sustainably used. The introduction of Express type services has clear benefits to people all along the line from north to south as well as generating significant revenue benefits for the rail industry.
“The East Midlands refranchising is a huge opportunity to create an integrated end-to-end transport hub for the benefit of the UK and Three Counties region in particular. Luton is at the intersection of two strategically important economic corridors from north to south along with Midland Mainline, and from east to west between the high employment, high skill Oxford-Cambridge corridor. There is a clear economic and social benefit to improving connectivity in the region.”
Furthermore, the analysis found that adding more services could increase the modal share for rail services to the airport from 14% to 21%, reducing traffic congestion by 70,000 journeys and saving 500 tonnes of CO2.
Sophie Dekkers, UK country director at easyJet said: “Despite London Luton’s strategic importance for the UK, LLA has the lowest share of passengers using public transport of the London airports and lacks the express service that other London airports and their passengers benefit from.
“Simply stopping more of the fast trains that already pass through the station will provide a significant benefit to passengers from London as well as passengers in the east midlands at the other end of the line.”
Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee, which published a report earlier this year calling for improved rail access to airports, said: “Surface access to airports is critically important. These proposals must be seriously considered to enable Luton airport to continue to attract a growing number of passengers.”
Andy McDonald MP, shadow secretary of state for transport, added that improving the rail connections to “our airports is key to growing passenger numbers and getting as many airline passengers as possible to leave their cars at home. The East Midlands refranchising is a big opportunity for Luton that should be looked at closely”.
Luton airport is also due to get a 24-hour light rail link by 2020.
(Image c. Chris Radburn from PA Wire and PA Images)
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